Stokehouse

30 Jacka Boulevard,
St Kilda, VIC 3182
(03) 9525 5555
Food: Modern Australian, Mediterranean
Website: www.stokehouse.com.au
Date visited: 22nd November 2009

A few days ago, we visited the upstairs formal dining area of Stokehouse for an indulging, Sunday night's dinner. We arrived just before sunset, and settled in for the breathtaking hues of orange and violet to seep through the floor to ceiling glass windows, reflecting the sparkling ocean underneath. The fresh and high-quality food on offer blended well into the relaxed, sea-breeze atmosphere. The staff are friendly, but the service that night was slack and absent-minded - I had to go and find my own jacket from the coat rack when leaving!

The Specials Board - placed near our table and swiftly removed after we ordered our food.

Celebratory Drinks of Bubbly

Tasmanian Oysters with Chilli Dipping Sauce and Shallot Cabernet Vinegar


Ocean Trout Confit with Chilled Tomato Consomme, Shaved Fennel, Sesame, Cucumber & Flying Fish Roe - The consomme was refreshing and amazingly light, sweet and aromatic

Spiced Pork Belly and Garlic Prawns, Almond Skordalia, Radish Salad & Dark Moscavado Dressing - The pork was juicy and ultra tasty, but could have done with a crispier skin.

Roasted Milk Fed Veal Tenderloin in Pancetta with Wild French Mushrooms, Grilled Baby Leeks and Truffle Cream - The leeks were stringy and left an unpleasant, pungent aftertaste in my mouth, but this was easily forgiven by the heavenly truffle cream... mmm

Snapper Fillet with Marron & Bug Tail Cassoulet, Chorizo, Fennel, Olives and Rouille - I love how the seafood partners so well with chorizo, but was not a fan of the mushy lentil-y texture of the cassoulet

Shaved Cabbage and Fennel with Parmesan Cream

'The Bombe' - Frozen White Chocolate Parfait with Strawberry Sorbet and Toasted Meringue. I'm so glad we shared this, the serving was very generous! My favourite dish of the night by far, the beautiful combination of textures from the gooey meringue and creamy parfait, to the refreshing sorbet and sweet strawberries was to-die-for!

We figured the outer layer was the meringue and the inner one was the parfait, but where was the sorbet?!

Ahh... Well-hidden behind the strawberries!

Short Macchiato with Cinnamon Cookie